2015.04.11.Sermon.Humble Prayer, understanding God’s Kingdom, Power and Glory forever.
William Akehurst, HSWC
When we understand that we pray to GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER, whose Kingdom, Power and Glory we live in, we are humbled before HIM, yet know that HE is the ONE AND ONLY ONE who can supply for all our needs.
Understanding whose authority we are under as we pray for God’s Kingdom, Power and Glory, for ever.
Matthew 6:9-13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
HIS KINGDOM
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN POWER
HIS POWER
Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
WE ARE STRENGTHENED ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS POWER.
Colossians 1:9-11 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
EVEN THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS SHOWS THE POWER OF GOD TO THE BELIEVER
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
WHEN JESUS RETURNS, WE SHALL SEE HIM IN POWER AND GREAT GLORY
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
HIS GLORY SHINES BRIGHT AND WE WALK IN THAT LIGHT
Revelation 21:23-24 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
WE HAVE GOD’S POWER IN OUR LIVES THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
WE WERE CREATED FOR HIS PLEASURE
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
UNDERSTANDING HIS KINGDOM, POWER AND GLORY PUTS EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S KINGDOM, POWER AND GLORY SHOW US WHO WE ARE. WE ARE TO SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD
James 4:6-7 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
OUR HUMILITY
WE MUST REALIZE OUR LOWLINESS IN LIGHT OF HIS POWER AND GLORY AND NOT BE LIKE THESE WHO DENY THE POWER OF GOD vs 5
2 Timothy 3:1-5 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 TYPES OF PEOPLE. THE PROUD AND THE HUMBLE. BE HUMBLE BEFORE THE LORD.
Luke 18:9-14 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
STRONG OR RICH PEOPLE THINK THEY DON’T NEED GOD AND DON’T REALIZE THE WRETCHEDNESS OF THEIR LIFE WITHOUT HIM (CHURCH OF LAODICEA in Rev 3.17)
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
PRAYER IS COMPARED TO CHILDBIRTH. IT CAN BE PAINFUL AND LABOR-SOME, YET THE REWARD AND JOY IS GREATER THAN THE PAIN.
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,.
GOD TOLD THE WATCHMEN TO NEVER HOLD THEIR PEACE DAY OR NIGHT. YOU WHO PRAY, DO NOT BE SILENT BUT CONTINUE UNTIL PRAYER IS ANSWERED.
Isaiah 62:6-7 6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth..
PAUL REMINDS US THE REASON FOR PRAYER
Ephesians 6:12-17 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
WHEN WE PRAY, GOD WORKS.
BUT MANY OF US DON'T HAVE FAITH TO BELIEVE, WE WOULD RATHER BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE WORK, GOD WORKS.
Because we think God puts a premium on our work, rather than on our prayer, we put our emphasis on our work (which we can control and for which we can receive credit) rather than on God's work (which we can't control and for which only He receives glory)!
Along the same line, evangelist Billy Graham said, "First pray . . . then work! That's the order of God. From one end of the Bible to the other, we find the record of people whose prayers have been answered -- people who turned the tide of history by prayer, men who prayed fervently and whom God answered."
The bottom line is this: God is not impressed with our work; He is only impressed with His own work. And He has directly linked His work with our prayer.
Yes, God has chosen prayer as a link between Him and man in order to carry out His will and purpose for creation. God literally performs His miraculous work through us in prayer!
TOO BUSY TO PRAY, NO TIME.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
". . . rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer . . ." -- Romans 12:12, KJV
TOO OFTEN PRAYER IS OUR LAST RESORT RATHER THAN OUR FIRST RESPONSE.
The apostle Paul challenged the Christians in Rome to be instant in prayer.
The next time you hear the ambulance's siren or hear the radio or TV news reporting some late breaking tragedy, or hear a person pour out their troubled heart to you, ask yourself, "How am I to pray?"
Let's be a people of prayer - offering effective and targeted prayers for the good of humanity and to the GLORY OF GOD.
IT’S YOUR TIME WITH GOD
As we learn characteristics of prayer, our method of praying should always be genuine, current and persistent.
1. SUBMIT YOURSELF HUMBLY BEFORE HIM
2. DECLARE WHO GOD IS, AND THAT HE IS IN AUTHORITY OVER YOU
3. SEEK HIM FOR HIS WILL IN YOUR LIFE
4. AND PRAY UNTIL THE ANSWER COMES
Remember what George Müller said. When he was persuaded that something was the will of God, he would never give up praying for it until the answer came.
Our loving Heavenly Father is ready to hear and answer your prayers. Take time today to share your deepest burdens with the Lord. Pour out your heart freely as you express your desire for a closer and more intimate walk with Him. Ask God to teach you how to pray.
Pray aloud this prayer with me to the Lord?
Our HEAVENLY FATHER, through the HOLY SPIRIT and in the Name of YOU LORD JESUS, I am so thankful to know YOU as my Lord and Savior.
And I want to know YOU more and more each moment of every day.
Forgive me when I fail to come to YOU for help thinking I have to do it alone.
I want to be like men and women who believed YOU for great things and saw them happen.
I desire to pray current, genuine, effective and persistent prayers.
I want to live a clean life so that YOU can use me to YOUR honor and glory.
Fill me with YOUR HOLY SPIRIT to overflowing.
Empower me to pray the kinds of prayers that matter to the kingdom of God with the intercession of YOUR HOLY SPIRIT
Forgive me, and help me, and give me strength to resist believing that YOU don't care about my needs or burdens, because I know YOU do care.
YOU love me unconditionally, and I happily receive YOUR love, grace and encouragement to continue going on until YOU call me home.
I surrender to YOUR will for my life today, LORD.
In JESUS' name, Amen.
Benediction:
Romans 16:24-27
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of POWER to stablish you according to the gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
In the words of Robert A. Cook, a renowned radio preacher...
Let's "Walk with the KING today, and be a blessing!"
